HYDRAULIC JUMP AND WEIR FLOW

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Condition for formation of hydraulic jump

• When depth of flow is forced to change from a

supercritical depth to a subcritical depth

• Or Froude number decreases from greater than 1.0 to less

than 1.0.

• Jump will not occur when Froude number is less than 1.0

• Jump does not occur from subcritical to supercritical flow –

only vice versa.

Figure 14.3

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y1 – supercritical flow
y2 – subcritical flow

y 2 = ( y1 / 2)( 1 + 8 N F2 1 − 1)

Where NF1 is the Froude number at section 1.

Note – subcritical depth y2 only depends on y1 and the Froude

number.

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Figure 14.4

Specific Energy conditions in the Hydraulic jump –

Loss of energy

E1 − E2 = ( y2 − y1 ) 3 / 4 y1 y2
Theoretical depth after jump – alternate depth

Actual depth after jump – sequent depth

Length of jump – varies – but about 7 times the subcritical

depth.

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Problem 14.6

Q = 18m3/s

Rectangular channel = 3m wide

Channel – unfinished form concrete

Hydraulic jump occurs where the depth is 1m = y1.

Determine –
• Velocity before jump
• Depth after jump
• Velocity after jump
• Energy dissipated in the jump

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Solution –

y1 = 1m
A1 = 3* 1 = 3m2

V1 = 18/3 = 6m/s

v
NF =
gyh
yh = A/T

For rectangular channel, yh = y

Therefore Nf = 1.92 > 1.0 (supercritical flow)

Find y2 using the equation –

y 2 = ( y1 / 2)( 1 + 8 N F2 1 − 1)

y2 = 2.26 m

v2 = Q/A2 = 18/(3*2.26) = 2.65 m/s

loss of energy is computed using –

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E1 − E2 = ( y2 − y1 ) 3 / 4 y1 y2
E1 – E2 = 0.22 m

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Practical applications of hydraulic jumps:

• Dissipation of energy of water flowing over dams and

weirs – to prevent possible erosion and scouring due to
high velocities

• Raising water levels in canals to enhance irrigation

practices and reduce pumping heads

• Reducing uplift pressure under the foundations of hydraulic

structures

• Creating special flow conditions to meet certain special

needs at control sections – gaging stations, flow
measurement, flow regulation

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You could also use it for thrills!!! (not recommended)

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Types of hydraulic jumps

Classified based on flow form, approach Froude number, and

energy loss.

v
NF =
gyh

(a) Undular jump (1 < Fn1<1.7)

• Slight undulation
• Two conjugate depths are close
• Transition is not abrupt – slightly ruffled water surface

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(b) Weak jump (1.7<Fn1<2.5)
• Eddies and rollers are formed on the surface
• Energy loss is small
• The ratio of final depth to initial depth ~ between 2.0 and
3.1.

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(c) Oscillating jump (2.5 <Fn1<4.5)
• Jet oscillates from top to bottom – generates surface waves
that persist beyond the end of the jump
• Ratio final depth to initial depth ~ between 3.1 to 5.0
• To prevent destructive effects this type of jump should be
avoided

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(d)_Stable jump (4.5<Fn1<9)

• Many advantages
• Position of jump fixed regardless of downstream conditions
• Good dissipation of energy
• Considerable rise in downstream water level
• Ratio of final to initial depth ~ between 5.9 and 12.0

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(e) Strong or rough jump (Fn1 > 9)

• Jump becomes increasingly rough

• Fn1 should not be allowed to exceed 12 – otherwise
required stilling basins will be large and massive
• Ability of jump to dissipate energy is massive
• Ratio of final to initial depth ~ over 12 and may exceed 20.

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Uncontrolled Hydraulic jump – erosion !

http://www.rollanet.org/~conorw/cwome/article6&7.htm

• Taum Sauk reservoir on Proffit Mountain, Missouri.

• 80 feet dike
• 1.5 billion gallons (4,600 acre-feet) of water
• Water overtopped the dike

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In 12 minutes after failure, 1.5 billion gallons of water roared
down an un-named tributary of the East Fork and straight
towards the upstream portion of Johnson's Shut-ins State Park.

Although the peak flow of the flood isn't known and may or may
not be uncovered by the official investigation, the average flow
was 280,000 cubic feet per second, larger than the average flow
of the Mississippi River just upstream from its confluence with
the Ohio River! The peak flow was likely larger.

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The flow released during the failure stripped the upper slopes of
Proffit Mountain down to bare bedrock. This picture shows the
~600 foot wide break, stripped area of Proffit Mountain, and the
upper portions of the lower scour zone.

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A large scour hole was formed by the hydraulic jump marking the
transition between the upper steep portion and the lower, more
gradual slopes of Proffit Mountain.

The hole is at least 20 feet deep and was likely much larger
before the diminishing flows near the end of the flood filled much
of it with debris.

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Weirs & Flumes

Devices that can be used to measure open channel flow

V notch weir in streamflow

Geometry of the section is used to measure the flow

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Weirs –

• Sharp crested edge

• Water should flow over as a free jet (nappe) – aeration
below the nappe
• Water depth above the edge (H) should be measured at 4H
from edge
• Various types of weirs

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Rectangular weir –

• Also called suppressed weir

• Crest length L
• Crest height above the bottom of channel Hc ≥ 3Hmax
• Minimum head above crest > 0.2 ft
• Max head above crest < L/3

Q = 3.33 LH 3/ 2

Where Q ft3/s and H is in ft.

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Contracted weir –

• Similar to rectangular but with sides extended inwards by

at least 2Hmax
• Fluid contracts as it flows over the weir
• Crest height above the bottom of channel Hc ≥ 2Hmax
• Minimum head above crest > 0.2 ft
• Max head above crest < L/3

Q = 3.33 ( L − 0.2 H ) H 3/ 2

English units (ft).

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Cipolletti weir –

Similar to contracted rectangular weir but with sides sloped

outwards.

Q = 3.367 LH 3/ 2

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Triangular weir –

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 • Especially used for low flow rates – since a higher head can
be generated compared to rectangular weirs
• Angle of the weir affects the discharge equations
• Angles – 35 to 120 degrees
• Typical angles used – 60 and 90 degrees

Generic equation for an angle –

Q = 4.28C tan(θ / 2) H 5/ 2

C ~ 0.58.

Specific equation for 60 degree notch –

Q = 1.43H 5/ 2

Equation for 90 degree notch –

Q = 2.48 H 5/ 2

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Flumes –

• Designed so that flow achieves critical depth within the

structure
• Definite relationship between depth and discharge at
critical flow
• Various types of flumes have been created with specific
equations for each

Parshall flume -

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You size the flume based on throat width (6 inches in this case)

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One of the suppliers of flumes –

http://www.globalw.com/products/flumes.html

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 Table of Dimensions
Part # W A 2/3A B C D E F G J K N Price
01-006 1 14-9/32 9-17/32 14 3-21/32 6-19/32 9 3 8 9-1/4 3/4 1-1/8 $568
01-007 2 16-5/16 10-7/8 16 5-5/16 8-13/32 12 4-1/2 10 12-7/8 7/8 1-11/16 $746
01-008 3 18-3/8 12-1/4 18 7 10-3/16 24 6 12 25 1 2-1/4 $921
01-009 6 24-7/16 16-5/16 24 15-1/2 15-5/8 24 12 24 27 3 4-1/2 $1,550
01-010 9 34-5/8 23-1/8 34 15 22-5/8 30 24 18 33 3 4-1/2 $1,978
01-011 12 54 36 52-7/8 24 33-1/4 36 24 36 39 3 9 $3,561

Prices listed are for United States and Canada only. Call or e-mail us for pricing in other countries.
Terms and Conditions
Table of Flow Data
Size 1" 2" 3" 6" 9" 12"

Min CFS 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.005 0.006

Min MGD 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.003 0.004

Max CFS 0.22 0.68 2.91 6.16 12.51 21.68

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 Max MGD 0.14 0.44 1.88 3.98 8.09 14.01

Complete Flow Table

NOTE: Flow tables are only valid to the E (height) 1" Table 2" Table 3" Table 6" Table 9" Table 12" Table
measurement of the Parshall Flume.

Tracom Flume types –

Trapezoidal

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H-type flume

Cutthroat flume

Montana Flume

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